Chain-links for bucket dredgers, elevators, and the like.



CHAIN LINKS FOR BU P. M. DEKKER.

Patented Sept. 12,1911.

722mm? far P\ETERMARTmus DEKKER,

COLUMIIA PLANWRAPH 20., WASHINGTON. D. c.

PIETER MARTINUS DEKKER, OF THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS.

CHAIN-LINKS FOR BUCKET DREDGERS, ELEVATORS, AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 15, 1910.

Patented Sept. 12, 1911.

Serial N 0. 544,022.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PIETER MARTINUS DEKKER, a subject of the Queen of the Netherlands, residing at 16 Frederik Hendriklaan, The Hague, in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Chain-Links for Bucket Dredgers, Elevators, and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new arrangement of bucket chain links for dredgers, elevators and the like, the object of the invention being to prevent or easily remedy the wear of the buckets.

In devices proposed hitherto the bucket chain links were rectangular and so arranged on the buckets that the lower edges of the links were on the same level as the lower edge of the buckets. As is well known, the lower edges of the buckets, links, and empty or intermediate links (that is, links carrying no buckets) are exposed to a rapid wear at the sharp edges of the dredger or elevator drum. It is true that the empty links when worn out on one side may be reversed and this may also be done with the bucket links although the same are as a rule riveted to the buckets themselves. The wear of the buckets themselves, however, cannot be remedied so that when the wear has reached to a certain extent the buckets must be completely renewed. According to my invention and in order to overcome said drawback the bucket links themselves are made .L shaped and the buckets are so joined together that the flanges of the T shaped links will not project over the breadth of the chain of links and that only the lower edges of the links come into contact with the dredger drums and the guiding rolls. In this way any wear of the buckets or of their side plates and the back parts to which the links are fastened, is impossible while the worn out links can be easily renewed. The new links can also be easily applied to existing buckets of bucket dredgers or the like.

The new bucket links constructed in accordance with this invention are shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a partial elevation of buckets with the top dredger drum. Fig. 2 shows a front elevation of a bucket the left hand bucket link being shown in elevation and the right hand bucket link in section. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line II of Fig. 2, while Fig. 4 is a view as seen from above of the chain formed by the links.

The bucket links, a, are secured in the ordinary way by means of bolts or rivets to the, buckets or to the side plates, 0, and back plates d, thereof while the empty or intermediate links, 6, engage with them by means of bolts and other suitable means. The buckets are actuated by means of the dredger drum, 7. The bucket links, a, are provided at their lower edges with a wide flange, g, projecting on both sides which flange extends on the inside beneath that portion of the bucket where the sheet metal of the bucket is riveted together with the side and back plates, 0 and 0?, respectively. The flange, g, does not extend on the outside over the whole length ofthe link but stops short at the places where the empty links, that is links carrying no buckets, engage, so that the nose pieces or projections of the empty links can freely move about the nose pieces of the bucket links (see Fig. 1.) It will now be clear that the lower edge of the bucket will be prevented by the bottom flange, 9, of the bucket links, a, from wearing by coming into contact with the dredger drums and guiding rolls.

When the bucket links are worn to such an extent as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3 they may be replaced by new bucket links. It will be seen that the flanges, 9, do not extend over the empty links, 6, so that the width of the drum need not be altered. Owing to the bearing surface of the bucket links, a, on the drum surface being much wider they will wear longer, thus procuring a further advantage.

If the new bucketlinks are to be applied to already existing buckets, it will be sufficient to reduce the lower edges of the bucket plates and the side and back plates, 0 (1, respectively, by an amount corresponding to the height of the flange.

What I claim is:

In a bucket link chain for dredgers, elevators and the like, the combination with the lower edges of the side and back plates of the bucket of two links, each consisting of two quite equal linkpieces, each linkpiece consisting of a sidepiece (a) and a In testimony whereof I have hereunto set flange (lg), the flanges (g) extending on my hand in presence of two subscribing witboth sides of the side pieces (a) ,one part of .nesses.

said flange extending below and under said PIETER MARTINUS DEKKER. 5 lower edges, and said flanges nearly toueh- Witnesses:

ing each other under said edges, and pro- THOMAS H. VERHA-NER,

tecting them from wear. S. VAN BIEMA, Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for-fiveeent s eaeh, by addressing. the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

